Tub construction



June 22, 1943. c. H. WIDMAN 2,322,407

TUB CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 19, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VENTORA T ORNE Y J n 1 3- c. H. WIDMANI 2,322,407

TUB CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Oct. 19, 1939 4 sneei s-sheet 4 vCzar/605 M INVE TOR A TTORNE Y Patented June 22, 1943 warren sT TUBCONSTRUCTION Charles H. Widman, Detroit, Mich, assignor to The MurrayCorporation of America, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of DelawareOriginal application October 19, 1939, Serial No.

300,227. Divided and this application November 28, 1.949, Serial No.367,555

6 Claims.

This application is a division of application, Serial No. 300,227,'filedOctober 19, 1939, for Tub construction, the claims of which are the soleinvention of the present applicant.

My invention relates to bath tubs, and particularly to bath tubs of thesheet metal type, embodying new and novel constructions.

While bath tubs heretofore were constructed of sheet metal, diiiicultyhas always been experienced in drawing the tub portion to provide adesirable slope to the back and to shape the various portions indesirable blending curvatures. Heretofore, an apron was attached to theskirt on the tube flange by butt welding, which required a metalfinishing operation to produce a smooth surface. When the apron was overlapped with the skirt an ofifset construction was provided which hadcertain objectionable features.

In practicing my invention, I draw the body of the tub into desired formand attach to the skirt of the flange, adjacent to the top of the tub, adepending apron which is spot welded or otherwise fixed thereto andcover the joint therebetween with a molding. The molding may be of anywell known type and is preferably shaped to receive the heads of boltsor attaching fasteners which are secured in apertures through the seamof the joint. This. eliminates the butt welding as well as as the metalfinishing operation, which is expensive. The flange at the back wall ofthe tub extends upwardly while that of the downwardly projecting skirtportion-is flanged in- --wardly. The flanges abuteach other and arewelded together to strengthen the corner at which a separate gussetplate was heretofore employed. The inwardly and outwardly projectingflanges are so developed as toabut along their edges and when weldedtogether, provide material strength at the corners.

In the seat type of tub, that is to say, the tub in which the top flangeis extended to form a seat, the apron is divided and provided with apair of doors. The door are mounted on hinges to open outwardly toexpose shelf space provided inwardly of the front wall of the apron. Thecompartment thus provided back of the apron adds additional storagespace within the bath room and is unique in that such space is availableto an occupant of the tub.

Accordingly, the main objects of my invention are: to construct bathtubs from sheet metal having a depending apron which is interrupted byan ornamental molding strip; to secure an apron to the depending skirtat the edge of the top flange of a bath tub and cover the jointtherebetween With a molding strip; to spot weld an apron to thedepending skirt of a bath tub and cover the joint therebetween, after aporcelain enamel operation, with a finish strip of molding; to providebetween sections of an apron of a bath tub for enclosing a compartmentprovided back of said doors; to have the edge of the top flange about abath tub bent upwardly and mated with the inwardly bent edge of adepending skirt in abutting aligned relation and welded to providematerial strength between the skirt and flange; to attach the moldingand the apron sections to the skirt of the bath tub by bolts, the headsof which are recessed within the molding; and in general, to provide abath tub of the sheet metal type having a depending apron and ornamentalmolding bolted, spot Welded, or otherwise secured thereto, which issimple in construction and economical of manufacture.

Other objects and features of novelty of my invention will be eitherspecifically pointed out or will become apparent when referring, for abet.- ter understanding of my invention, to the follow-- ing descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a bath tub embodying features ofmy invention;

Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the bath tub illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top plan View of the bath tub illustrated in Fig.1;

Fig. 4 is a front view in elevation, of the bath tub illustrated in Fig.*3

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View of the structure illustrated inFig. 3, taken on the line 5-5 thereof;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure-illustrated inFig. 3, taken on the line 6-6 thereof;

i Fig. '7 is an enlarged broken sectional view :Of the structureillustrated in Fig. 4, taken on the line 1-! thereof;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFig. 4, taken on the line 88 thereof; v

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional View of the structure illustrated inFig. 4, taken on the line 9-9 thereof;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional view of'th'e structure illustrated inFig. 4, taken on the line l0l0 thereof;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective View of a corner of the tubillustrated in Fig. 1, as viewed from point H thereof;

Fig. 12 is a view of the sheet metal as developed to produce the cornerillustrated in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a View of structure similar to that illustrated in Fig. 11,showing a modified form thereof;

Fig. 14 is a view of the sheet metal as developed to produce the cornerillustrated in Fig, 13;

Fig. 15 is an enlarged broken sectional view of the structureillustrated in Fig. 1, taken on the line |5|5 thereof;

Fig. 16 is a view of structure similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1,showing an open end tub;

Fig. 1'7 is a View of structure similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1,showing a further form which my invention may assume;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 17,taken on the line |8--|8 thereof; and,

Fig. 19 is an enlarged sectional view of the structure illustrated inFig. 1?, taken on the line In Fig. 1, I have illustrated a bath tub 26,having a tub portion 2| drawn from a single sheet of metal from whichtop flanges 22, downwardly depending skirts 23, and upstanding flanges4| have been drawn. A depending apron is formed as a separate stampingand attached to the skirt 23 by spot welding, bolting, or the like. Adecorative molding 26 covers the joint between the apron 25 and theskirt 23. The rim 22 at the front of the tub is extended outwardly toform a seat 21 and the apron 25 is extended outwardly at 28 to conformto the shape of the apron 23 at the front of the tub. While the frontportion of the apron 25 may be a continuous construction, I haveillustrated in Fig. 1 a pair of doors 29 hinged to the edges of apronsections adjacent to the projections 28 to form a closure for acompartment 3| disposed back of the doors. A partition or pillar element32 extends between the doors to frame the opening therefor.

In Figs. 3 to 10, inclusive, I have illustrated the apron 25 as beingformed of two sections having the doors 29 disposed therebetween. InFig. 5, it will be noted that the tub portion 2| has the metal thereofdrawn to form a sloping back 33 in a single sheet of metal. The drawdies and method of producing such sloping back is illustrated anddescribed in the copending application of E. H. Kotcher, Serial No.302,419, filed November l, 1939, and assigned to the assignee of thepresent invention.

The rim 22 isformed downwardly into the skirt portion 23 which has anoffset flange 34 mated with an offset flange 35 on the apron 25, forminga molding receiving recess. While the two flanges may be spot weldedtogether in the particular construction having the doors 29, I utilizebolts 36, the heads of which project within the molding 26 for securingthe molding within the recess and for retaining the two flanges insecured relationship. A drain opening 38 is formed at the front bottomportion of the tub 2|, while an opening 39 maybe provided in the topwall for the attachment of a fixture. It is to be understood that when awall type of fixture is employed, the aperture 39 is eliminated.

The flange 22 at the back and open end of the tub is flanged upwardly at4|. A flange 42 is provided on the ends of the skirt 23 and is formedinwardly in the opposite direction to the flange 4| at the rear of thetub. The edges of the flanges 4| and 42 are so developed that whenformed to desired shape they are in aligned abutting relation. This isillustrated more clearly in Figs. 11

and 12. The sheet of metal is developed as illustrated in Fig. 12 andwhen formed, as illustrated in Fig. 11, the flange 4| is in alignedabutting relation to the end 43 of the flange 42. The edge 43 is weldedat 44 to the base of the flange 4| as illustrated in Fig. 11.

In Fig. 13, I have illustrated the flange 42 as being extended at 45 toabut against the end 46 of the flange 4 I, the development beingillustrated in Fig. 14. Either of these constructions eliminate the useof a separate gusset plate heretofore provided to obtain strength at thetop corner ends. A brace 48, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and a brace 50,as illustrated in Fig. 9, extend between the apron 25 and the undersideof the flange 4| to provide strength at the ends of the apron by bracingthe apron relative to the tub.

While, as pointed out hereinabove, the apron may be a unit stampingextending across the front of the tub, the modification hereinillustrated employs spaced apron sections 53 and 54. The receptacle 3|is enclosed by the doors 29 disposed between the apron sections. Thedoors have inwardly directed flanges 49 about their edges to which aresecured spaced inner panels 5| which are welded or otherwise securedthereto to form a box section construction. Concealed type of hinges 52support the hinged ends of the doors to the apron sections and enclosethe space between the ends of the sections and the central pillar 32.Suitable fastenin means not herein illustrated are employed for securingthe doors in closed position.

A sill portion 55 interconnects the two apron sections 53 and 54 belowthe doors 29. An angle member 56 may be employed above the doorinterconnecting the apron sections. Bolts 36 are preferably employedfor'joining the apron sections 53 and 54 to the sill portion 55, theangle element 56 and to the pillar 32. Bolts also are employed forinterconnecting the aprons sections 53 and 54 to the skirt portion 23 ofthe tub. the heads of the bolts providing the support for the moldingstrip 31. The sill portion 55 may be extended rearwardly at 51 to form ashelf enclosed at the sides by the panels 59. An upstanding flange BI isprovided in the rear of the shelf 51 which may abut thereagainst, or bespaced therefrom. A strip 62 of rubber or other sound-deadening materialmay be secured along the edges of the flange 6| to deaden any soundwhich may occur between the flange and the metal of the tub.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, a flange 63 is formed around the base of theapron to provide a sup port of material width to the tub. As illustratedin Fig. 2, a pair of anchoring brackets 64 may be provided at the rearof the tub, attached to flange 4|, for the purpose of securing the tubto the wall of the room.

When the apron 25 is formed of a continuous sheet of metal Without thedoors above described, the apron preferably has its flange 35 lappedover the offset flange 34 of the skirt 23 and welded thereto. Aplurality of apertures 65 are provided through the two flanges forreceiving the bolts 36 or the spring anchoring clips 66, the heads ofwhich are disposed within the molding strip 31 to thereby anchor themolding strip within the recesses provided by the flanges. Theattachment of the mold either by the clips 66 or bolts 36 securelyretains the molding in position and eliminates the metal finishingoperation heretofore found necessary when a butt or seam welding wasemployed to join the apron to the skirt.

The molding may be enamel to conform with the enameling of the skirt andapron, or a chrome molding strip or a strip of color different from thatof the enamel may be employed to provide a trim appearance to the joint,

In Fig. 16, I have illustrated a bath tub having the compartment anddoors, which is sim-- ilar to that illustrated in Fig. l, with theexception that the end skirt and apron are eliminated as is desirablefor tubs which are enclosed by three Walls.

In Fig. 17, I have illustrated a tub similar to the tub illustrated inFig. 1, with the exception that the doors and cabinet, and the extendedwidth of the top flange are eliminated. In a section of the tubillustrated in Figs. 18 and 19, I have illustrated the continuous apron25 extending along the front and the side of the tub, and provided withdebossed panels which blend into the apron wall at one end. This apronhas been referred to above with regard to Fig. 15, and is preferablywelded to the skirt 23 with snap fasteners employed for retaining themolding in position. The flange 63 is clearly illustrated extendingacross the front and the side of the apron at the bottom edge to form asupport.

It is to be understood that the tub illustrated in Fig. 17 may have theend skirt and apron eliminated to have the flange 4| extend entirelyaround the two end and rear top flanges of the tube to provide a tub.which may be built into a recess having a rear and two side walls.

that the bath tub may flange 21 at the front central portion to form theseat, illustrated in Fig. 16, when the doors 29 are not employed. Acontinuous panel 25 is employed to form the apron across the front whena tub is constructed similarly to that in Fig. 16 and across the frontand end when a tub is constructed similarly to that shown in Fig. 1.

While I have described and illustrated several embodiments of myinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art, that variousIt is to be understood have the extended top changes, omissions,additions and substitutions.

may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention, as set forth in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a sheet metal bath tub construction, a tub proper having a flangeabout its top edge, a skirt extending downwardly at the front of the tubhaving an inwardly directed flange at one end, the end of the top flangeof the tub being disposed upwardly in aligned abutting relation with theflange on said skirt and secured together at the abutted portions.

2. In a sheet metal bath tub construction, a tub proper having a flangeabout its top edge, a skirt extending downwardly at the front of the tubhaving inwardly directed flanges at its ends, and an upwardly directedflange at the edge of said top flange aligned with the end flanges ofsaid skirt and Welded thereto.

3. In a sheet metal bath tub construction, a tub proper having a flangeabout its top edge which is projected downwardly at the 'ront into askirt portion, an end flange on the skirt portion projected inwardly,and an upwardly projecting flange 0n the end of said tub flange disposedin aligned relation with the flange on the skirt portion and weldedthereto.

4. In a sheet metal bath tub construction, a tub proper having a flangedtop edge, the front portion of which is flanged downwardly into a skirtportion, a rearwardly disposed flange on the end of the skirt portion,the top flange being flanged upwardly at the end in aligned relationwith the end flange of the skirt portion to which it is Welded.

5. In a sheet metal bath tub construction, a tub proper having a topflange which is formed downwardly into a skirt portion and upwardly toform an end flange, an inwardly projected flange on the end of the skirtportion in aligned relation with said end flange, the upwardly directedflange and the end flange being preformed to mate with each other andwelded together at the mated area.

6. In a sheet metal bath tub construction, a tub proper having a topflange, an upwardly projecting end flange on the top flange, adownwardly projecting skirt portion on the top flange, an inwardlyprojected flange on the end of the skirt portion, the edge of theinwardly projected flange being aligned with the edge of the upwardlyprojecting end flange and welded thereto.

CHARLES H. WIDMAN.

